Furniture Polish and Duster

Despite what some may think when they walk into my house on any given afternoon, I actually really like to clean.

One of the tasks I enjoy most is dusting. Yep, it’s true!

I think this is because growing up this was my ‘job’ when helping my mother clean on Saturday morning’s. Or perhaps it’s just because the house simply looks and smells cleaner when I’m done.

The problem is, however, that I haven’t always had the right tools to get the job done right. Either the dusting spray has left the furniture surface greasy or tacky, or has smelled noxious. And even when I did find a “natural” spray I liked, it cost a pretty penny.

So (as usual), I set about on a mission to figure out a homemade version. And (as usual) I started by flipping over my favorite products and looking at their ingredients. Yikes!!

I must say, this is one of the homemade products that I am MOST pleased with. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now and my surfaces polish up beautifully without any residues.

Aerosol polishes are very convenient to use but they have significant downsides in terms of damaging the surfaces of wood furniture. They also add silicone oil and other contaminants to furniture and contain various solvents that can eat through varnish. Other types of surface finish, such as polyurethane, are less susceptible to these solvents.

Recipe

Combine in a 8 oz Glass Spray Bottle:

¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup vinegar
10 drops essential oils
Recommended oils: Wild Orange, Arborvitae , or Lemon

For wood furniture, add 10 drops of Essential Oils to 1/4 cup of olive oil, and 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar to a glass spray bottle. The best part about this cleaner is that it both dusts and polishes – no need for expensive cleaners!

(Make sure each time you use it that you shake it well before spraying!)

The Ingredients

Olive Oil – Olive oil shines the wood and protects it. Olive oil has been used for millennia in this capacity.

White vinegar – White vinegar also cuts through grease and grime residues. It also acts as a mild disinfectant. Win Win!!

Essential oil ( Wild Orange, Arborvitae, Lemon, etc) – These are present not only for scent, but for the beneficial properties that are inherent to that specific essential oil. Make your home smell lovely and clean… in a natural, non-toxic way!